After 51 years, Grafton Flea Market on hold due to COVID-19

By Lisa Redmond

Tuesday

May 12, 2020 at 4:31 PMMay 12, 2020 at 4:31 PM

GRAFTON – After 51 years of drawing crowds from around New England, the owners of the Grafton Flea Market, scheduled to open May 24, have asked the governor to let this “non-essential’’ business open despite restrictions of COVID-19.

Michael and Laura Peters, owners of this family-owned business, sent a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker April 22 asking the governor to allow the flea market to open, recognizing that safety and health is the No. 1 priority.

The message on the Grafton Flea Market’s Facebook page states: “The governor has a stay-at-home order through May 18. Our hope is to open Sunday, May 24. Please check the market’s website or Facebook page for updates. Be safe.’’

With Massachusetts seemingly in a downward trend for those testing positive for or dying from COVID-19, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Monday, May 11, the state would begin a four-phased reopening of businesses.

Mr. Baker’s plan would work as follows:

Phase one will allow a limited number of businesses to reopen their doors with “severe restrictions.’’

During phase two, industries can reopen with restrictions and capacity limits.

Phase three allows industries to reopen with public health guidance.

In the fourth phase, the state will try to return to a “new normal’’ after a vaccine is developed.

There are no specific dates attached to each phase of the governor’s plan, but in modeling other states the phases are about four weeks apart. While this is good news for many businesses, the Grafton Flea Market is facing a deadline.

Like many other summertime businesses and activities, the Grafton Flea Market is “anxious’’ to open, but social distancing due to COVID-19 is keeping the market closed for now, Philip Leger of the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance told the Grafton Board of Health May 4.

Describing the flea market’s new set up as “safer than a grocery store or mall,’’ Peters wrote: “Our flea market is situated on 18+ acres, and 95% of the venue is outdoors. Since the vendors are already spread out over the acreage, we are prepared for social distancing.’’

To abide by the state’s guidelines requests, the flea market’s set up has been changed to have:

A plan to prepare food in the existing kitchen. However, the snack bar will relocate to a take-out window outdoors, with six-foot distancing lines for customers.

The food will be pre-packaged and covered to ensure safety and health.

All employees, vendors and customers will wear masks and gloves. Most of the vendors have been with the flea market for decades, and they rely on selling their wares to supplement their income, or, it is their sole income.

The Grafton Farmers Market, which is held on the Grafton Common between June and October, is faced with a similar dilemma, but it states on its Facebook page that the farmers market will open in 2020.

“We have been in contact with the local board of health on a variety of plans to make the market a reality this season. We are working on a virtual market where you will be able to support your favorite local farmers, artisans, and vendors. Shop and pay online, reserve a pick-up time, and pick everything up from one convenient location. If a physical market can happen on the Common this season, it will look different. There will be social distancing guidelines to follow and vendor set-ups will be optimized for everyone’s safety. One way or another, we look forward to seeing you at the market, and stay tuned for more detailed information,’’ according to a May 5 Facebook posting.

Mr. Leger told the Grafton Board of Health that the CMRPHA is waiting for guidance from the state, but stressed it won’t be business as usual.

“Businesses will need to show us how they will implement this (social distancing requirements),’’ he said.

Within the CMRPHA’s seven-town membership, people are already inquiring about the opening of public pools, recreation camps and campground, and how those activities will be able to comply with social distancing requirements and wearing masks, he said.

Grafton Board of Health Chair Karen Gwozdowski-Gauvin said until otherwise directed, town playgrounds as well as areas like basketball and tennis courts remain closed, but school fields, such as the track at the high school, are open, as long as social distancing is practiced.